The 33-year-old Russian, Anton Bogdanov, arrested last week in Thailand, categorically denies any involvement in the hacking activity imputed to him and the theft of US state property in the amount of $ 1 million. Bogdanov, who was able to answer RT questions through his lawyer, said he could not program and never did not possess any special skills in the field of information technology.
According to Anton, in Moscow he earned his living by road transport - a man has owned a small taxi company with a fleet of four cars for more than five years. This business brought Bogdanov about 100 thousand rubles a month.
The parents of Bogdanov, Peter and Galina, told RT that the statements about the million dollars allegedly stolen by their son are simply absurd.
“For our family, this is generally very funny, because we live below average. What millions he turned there? That's bullshit! He himself does not admit guilt, ”the mother of Bogdanova stressed in a conversation with RT.
Anton Bogdanov told RT that he really does not have special savings. According to the Russians, he does not own neither real estate, nor accounts or deposits. He does not even own a car. His mother confirmed that the son sold the car shortly before the trip to Thailand.
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First on vacation, then under arrest
Anton Bogdanov was detained at Phuket airport on November 28. That day he had to leave Thailand, where, together with his girlfriend, he spent 12 days on a tourist voucher. Bogdanov never flew off the island - when a man stood in a queue for boarding a plane, he was called up to the search room through a speakerphone. There, the Russians were waited by representatives of the local police and an employee of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations who informed the Russian tourist that he was arrested on suspicion of cyber fraud in the amount of $ 1 million.
As Bogdanov told RT, the sudden arrest threw him into shock. According to the Russians, an American intelligence officer who was present during the arrest tried to take advantage of the surprise effect.
“A representative of the FBI repeatedly tried to sign a paper stating that I agree to be questioned without a lawyer. Naturally, I did not sign it, ”says Anton.
After his arrest, Bogdanov first contacted his parents. Now Petr Viktorovich and Galina Aleksandrovna Bogdanov can both support their son and try to raise money for the services of a lawyer. In an interview with RT, Anton’s mother admitted that before the incident in Thailand they had spoken to her son quite rarely, but they knew that he had health problems. Elena claims that her son went to Thailand for treatment.
"This is clearly a mistake."
For 12 days spent on Phuket, Anton Bogdanov and his girlfriend did not notice anything unusual. They spent time at the hotel, did not get acquainted with anyone and did not communicate. According to Bogdanov, there was no surveillance of them, or he did not notice her.
The man found it difficult to answer the RT question, how can his arrest be useful to the American special services. He noted that he had never communicated with Americans on any personal or work issues.
“This is clearly a mistake, we will fight and prove (my innocence. - RT). - Anton insists. “I am absolutely not guilty of anything.”
On December 4, Bogdanov was formally charged and offered voluntary extradition to the United States. However, the Russian refused to leave Bangkok.
The prosecution says that Bogdanov "hacked into the US income tax refund system, changed the routes and bank data in the tax returns so that the refund will be made to the fraudster's account."
In the Russian Embassy in Thailand, RT reported that they are keeping the situation under special control.
According to the lawyer Elena Fominykh, who provides legal assistance to Bogdanov, Anton is accused of three articles: fraud, hacker hacking and theft of state property. The total punishment for the imputed Bogdanov articles is up to 20 years in prison.
Fominykh clarified that she would not be the official representative of Bogdanov - in accordance with local laws, only a Thai citizen can represent his interests.
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Need medical assistance
Now Bogdanov is in the Bangkok Remand Prison prison in cell 6 by 12 meters with 50 cellmates. Conditions, according to Anton, are terrible - people sleep right on the floor.
Call up with relatives Russian do not give, all communication takes place through a lawyer. In a conversation with RT, the Russian admitted that he misses his daughter very much. A man is divorced, his former wife and child are now living in Moscow.
Bogdanov’s parents are worried about his health - he has chronic diseases of the digestive system, blood problems and a serious leg injury.
“He has health problems, he complained. And in prison, the doctor cannot give anything other than Tylenol (paracetamol. - RT ), ”Galina Bogdanova is worried.
Anton himself argues that now he is most in need of legal support from the Russian state and adequate medical care.